Midsummer Blessings: From the Garden of Hecate

Thought I would just call in and wish everyone a happy belated midsummer. Everything has been crazy busy, with the article almost ready to be submitted for review to the editor. To ensure that the article is rounded off to a decent standard, i’m trying to clear myself of a writers block that is preventing the last 200 words from erupting forth. Once that is done, it will need checking before it is fired across.

I am hopeful it will selected, as I feel that I have managed to touch on a important aspect within how pagan paths approach masculinity and how our views can be limited by self imposed archetypal systems which sometimes are a poor model for describing complex systems. Feedback from people who have seen the draft version has been very positive. With the fire of the sun burning within and within, the visible shadow of the black sun, fulfilling the promise of a renewed year promised by Beltane, I feel as I too have to now step up to the mark and deliver. I hope I will be able to channel that into my writing to bring something that is worthy of them into fruition within a written, published media soon.

Midsummer fire by Petritap

In other news, I went to a ritual designed to celebrate the Goddess Hecate and God Hermes, run by a fantastic friend of mine.For anyone who follows my blog or knows about my path, the syncretic elements at play here are obvious, so it felt impossible to miss out on. It was expertly carried out, with the invocations to both great spirits being made, the chant of the seven vowels of A-E-H-I-O-Υ-Ω utilised to build up power before finally visualization was undertaken in an attempt to take each practitioner to the Garden of Hecate herself.

Pan was encountered, leading the participant to the lake of nymphs where they were purified in the Lake of Forgetfulness. Once completed, the road winded through the blazing heat of the garden to the feet of Hecate herself, who took on a three figured statue of white marble, holding two torches which resembled the sun and the moon. These glowed with an unearthly intensity, and it was here Hecate allowed the participant to anoint their feet in her box of dye, making ruddy the feet and giving her blessings of a second chance and the beginning of a new path.

Triple Hecate Statue – Unknown Source

From here, Pan then directed the participant onwards with Hecates blessing up a long, winding marble staircase and into an ancient greek temple, surrounded by columns, standing fire lamps, buzzing insects and a rectangular fountain. Here Hermes was encountered, who directed the seeker to look deep into the mercurial waters which swirled in the basin that were at the same time clear, full of light, but also swirling with shadow. There, his blessing were given, and his direction to me made clear.

Returned to the circle and mundanity by the God, a final piece of advice was given by fate from a scrying bowl, and offerings laid out to thank them for the communion.

It was a special and powerful rite, and indicated good signs for the journey to Spain hopefully later this year and my magickal path in general. I hope Midsummer also brought you equally as good omens for the future!